Look, we all know I need to exercise more and eat less. Get rid of all that stuff I don't use or need. Get more sleep and eat more vegetable. And maybe, do a little bit better at taking my dog for longer walks. Maybe more than once or twice a week.

And we know that the book won't write itself. So I should be spending more time every day at least trying.

But, as long as we're being honest, if I resolve to do all those things, I might pull the covers over my head on January first and go back to sleep.

A new year should hold the promise of surprise. And there's nothing surprising about breaking my New Year's resolutions.

A new year should hold the possibility of excitement. Yes. I'm thinking of how exciting it will be to finish my final draft. To publish my first book. To find my first reader.

A new year should be a chance to start over and get it right this time.

And to follow my favorite piece of writing advice from the poet William Stafford: "Lower your standards and keep writing."